Model-based versus model-free control designs for improving microalgae growth in a closed photobioreactor: Some preliminary comparisons

TL;DR

This paper compares model-based and model-free control strategies for optimizing microalgae growth in a closed photobioreactor, highlighting the advantages of model-free control in performance and simplicity through simulation results.

Contribution

It introduces a model-free control approach for microalgae cultivation and compares it with a traditional model-based strategy, demonstrating its effectiveness.

Findings

Model-free control outperforms model-based in simulations

Simpler implementation of model-free control

Enhanced growth performance with model-free approach

Abstract

Controlling microalgae cultivation, i.e., a crucial industrial topic today, is a challenging task since the corresponding modeling is complex, highly uncertain and time-varying. A model-free control setting is therefore introduced in order to ensure a high growth of microalgae in a continuous closed photobioreactor. Computer simulations are displayed in order to compare this design to an input-output feedback linearizing control strategy, which is widely used in the academic literature on photobioreactors. They assess the superiority of the model-free standpoint both in terms of performances and implementation simplicity.